What is Infant Mental Health Promotion?
Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP) is a coalition of individuals and professional representatives from agencies concerned with infants and their families. IMHP is dedicated to promoting optimal mental health outcomes for infants through developing and supporting best practices through education and training, dissemination of information, networking and advocacy.
Infant mental health is the social, emotional, and cognitive well-being of infants and young children.
Infant mental health practice refers to the promotion of optimal development and well-being in infants (prenatal to age three) and their families, the prevention of difficulties, and intervention when infants are at-risk or have identified problems. The goal of infant mental health services is to ensure optimal child outcomes in terms of a sense of security and self-esteem, and the ability to form satisfying relationships, to engage with the world, to learn, to cope and problem solve, and to continue positive development throughout life. Infant mental health services strive to promote stable and supportive families and communities.
IMHP was initiated in 1988 by the Department of Psychiatry of The Hospital for Sick Children. Since then the organization has grown considerably and maintains strong representation from community-based agencies across Canada. Infant Mental Health Promotion (IMHP) provides a collaborative, informed and passionate voice for infants, families and caregivers.
About Infant Mental Health Promotion Brochure
Welcome to IMHPromotion.ca
The NEW HOME for Infant Mental Health Promotion membership, resources, calendar of events, registration and sales through the new IMHP E-Store. In addition to the resources available on the former IMHP website (www.sickkids.ca/imp) individual or agency members will have access to exclusive members resources including:
- IMPRINT - The Newsletter of Infant Mental Health Promotion Online
- New IMHP Resources
- Online Learning Modules & Training Materials
- Community News, and Events
- Infant Mental Health Rounds Webcast Archives
- Online Discussion Forums
- IMHP Membership Network Directory, a searchable listing of links to fellow members, relevant services and programs
We hope that this site will provide a networking hub for infant mental health practice in Canada and beyond with the new Community Events, Job Posting and News Bulletins. We also hope that the online format will provide a “green “ solution to dissemination of the research and information that is important for your work.
Please take the opportunity to become a member to access the members directory which will provide details on agencies and the available services to support your work in the field of infant mental health from across Canada. As the infant mental health promotion network expands, agencies will be able to highlight their specific services to those who most need to know about them and through the directory you may be better able to find the services that you need in order to serve your clients better.